Livonia police are calling a local father's actions
a horrific act of animal cruelty. Police said a father threw his child's pet
kitten out a car window while driving on a busy local freeway.

The man's daughter was apparently in the vehicle
with him when he threw the animal out onto the side of Interstate 275 near Interstate
96.

A witness driving behind the man said he was going
at least 70 mph when the animal was thrown out the window. "I observed
that it was something full of fur. Then when it hit the ground and I saw it
roll ... and it was moving and in a lot of pain. I realized it was a baby kitten,"
said Francisco Solano, who witnessed the incident.

"The investigator said (the father's) only
remorse was that he got caught, but he really didn't have any remorse for what
occurred," said Lt. Ben McDermott of the Livonia Police Department.

The father apparently told police he had to dispose
of the kitten because the apartment complex where they live does not allow pets.

Police are reportedly pursuing felony charges against
the man.

Update 7/18/03:
Carlos Valladares-Guillen, 24, of Wixom, was arraigned on charges that he threw
the family kitten out the window of his car. After taking pictures of the dead
3-month-old kitten for evidence, police tracked the license plate number to
Guillen's home in Wixom. Investigators said Guillen eventually confessed to
the crime.

(Photo courtesy of Click on Detroit)

Guillen plead not guilty to the felony charges in
court. If convicted of the felony charges, he could face up to 4 years in prison
and a $5,000 fine. He will also likely be deported back to El Salvador.

“This was a wanton and willful disregard of
life,” Assistant Prosecutor Robert Donaldson stated.

Valladares-Guillen told police he found the kitten
in the alley of his apartment complex and wanted to give it a home. The feline
was to be a pet for his 5-month old daughter.

“People have gone crazy over this case,”
said Sean Daigle, Valladares-Guillen’s attorney. “He is a family
man with a 5-month old baby who attends church and plays the guitar.”

Valladares-Guillen faces up to 4 years in prison,
a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service if convicted.

Update 7/19/03:
Friends and family members of Valladares-Guillen said he's a good guy who is
confused about all the attention he's getting.

Detectives say Valladares-Guillen has shown no remorse
for his alleged actions. "The investigator said (the man's) only remorse
was that he got caught, but he really didn't have any remorse for what occurred,"
said Lt. Ben McDermott of the Livonia Police Department.

Valladares-Guillen has been living and working in
Wixom for 5 years. He was released on a $5,000 bond.

Update 11/6/03:
A judge has issued an arrest warrant for Carlos Eduardo Valladares-Guillen.

Valladares-Guillen failed to show up for his sentencing.

Valladares-Guillen pleaded guilty to a felony count
of animal cruelty in October. He was released on bond following his arrest in
July.

Valladares-Guillen said that he did not throw the
kitten out of a car window while the vehicle was moving, but said he was guilty
to avoid being deported. The man said he believes he was set up by someone
who harbored a grudge against him.

Valladares-Guillen's attorney says her client skipped
a hearing for a larceny charge in Oakland County two weeks ago. She hasn't had
contact with him since.

Update 10/29/03:
Valladares-Guillen is a fugitive from justice. He was sentenced to 1 1/2
years in prison for 2 counts of larceny in Oakland County. He also failed
to appear in court on the felony animal cruelty charges. It is believed
that Valladares-Guillen has fled to El Salvador.